Re: RENCHER, Pa. or Md.

John Grants Mom (Eliz Grant b. 1712) and Dad (john Jr. b. 1712) were married in Dublin (got the documentation) but they very well could have been the ones to leave home... and Eliz could have died and John, Jr. remarried here in the colonies. A distant cousin of ours have a web page in which he has recounted stories of his g'g'grandparents, etc.One of them says that John and Elizabeth WERE here when John Grant was born.I asked him about it, and the idea was generally "poo-pooed" as lapsed memory of an older person as no documentation had been found to prove (or disprove!)it.

RE: Renshaw.I have explored the Renshaw name as well as Rensher, and variations.But haven't got any solid evidence.

RE: Ann Nelson, 2nd wife to John Grant was daughter to Abraham Nelson and Toby Patterson b.1752 in Orange Co. N. C. From this point forward I have a pretty solid picture of the family. I have no documentation on Ann Lewis (the first wife) and wondered if she could have been from Md. or Pa. The name "Samuel" pretty much dissappears from the names of the Southern Renchers at this point.We see a lot of James, John, Abraham, and William for the males, Nancy, Ann, and Elizabeth for females.

I ordered the Renshaw/Rencher family bible records from the Maryland Archives yesterday hoping for some clue there.It'll be a couple of weeks til I get them.

Other tidbits of information:The first mention of Rencher in Drogheda that I have is Gerrard b. circa 1660. That coincides somehat with the immigration you mention of the Renchers/Renshaws to the colonies. I am betting that Gerrard left England with his relatives, decided to stay in Ireland while the rest continued their voyage to the New World. THAT may be the primary connection, and could explain why either John, Jr. or John Grant immigrated.Another thing, John Grant would have already been in his 30's during the Rev. War. when first we see him in the colonies.Seems a bit old, to me, for that time period to be leaving a comfortable life at home to forge a path in a war that probably would have little or no affect on him in Ireland.

ah well.. you can see this is a topic that I could go on about forever.

Thanks for the additional clues.I think I will start in Virginia with a new investigation. You have been a great help, Dorothy. Warm regards Bev